Boston College

Newton, Massachusetts
www.bc.edu 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467

Boston College Acceptance Rate

Acceptance Rate 19%
Acceptance Deadline January 1

The college admissions process can be confusing, but college acceptance rates can help you plan your path through the college admissions process. Understanding and selecting colleges with optimal acceptance rates are an important part of crafting your college list. You’ll want to apply to schools with both high and low acceptance rates. At a school with a lower acceptance rate, your chances of admission will likely also be lower. At a school with a higher acceptance rate, by contrast, your chances of acceptance will increase. So, choosing schools with different acceptance rates will help balance your college list and increase the likelihood you will gain admission to college. 

Acceptance rates are influenced by a number of factors. These include the number of applicants, the number of spots available, the college’s standardizing testing policy or standards, any GPA requirements, and the university’s overall admissions process. A strong candidate at one school may not be what another school is looking for. In other words, just because you’re accepted into one school with a low acceptance rate does not mean you will gain college acceptance to every school with a similar acceptance rate. 

College acceptance rates can seem daunting when you start your application process. However, don’t let college acceptance rates overwhelm you. Instead, think of them more as a set of guiding statistics. Acceptance rates can help you craft your college list and determine which schools may be a good fit for you as you begin applying. 

What is the Boston College acceptance rate? 

According to Boston College admissions data for the Class of 2026, The Boston College acceptance rate is 16.7%. This college acceptance rate is considered on the lower side. While this acceptance rate is not in the single digits like many Ivy League schools, this acceptance rate means that Boston College admissions are considered competitive. 

To explore more Boston College admission statistics including the BC acceptance rate, Boston College SAT requirements, and Boston College GPA requirements, check out the Boston College First-Year Admission Profile

Explaining the Boston College acceptance rate

Now that you’ve discovered the BC acceptance rate is 16.7%, you may be wondering what that means for your own chances of admission to Boston College. Let’s break down the Boston College acceptance rate together. 

A college acceptance rate is a number that describes the percentage of applicants that were offered admission to a given school. According to their admissions data, Boston College received 40,494 total applications in Fall 2022. From this pool, the Boston College admissions team selected only 6,748 applicants to admit to the Boston College Class of 2026. This means their acceptance rate is just 16.7%. In other words, less than 17 out of 100 students beat the BC acceptance rate. 

This number may seem intimidating. However, keep in mind that for the best colleges in the US, college acceptance rates can drop as low as 4%. If you pay close attention to the Boston College SAT requirements, the Boston College GPA requirements, and your Boston College supplemental essays, your application may earn you an offer from Boston College admissions.

What is a good college acceptance rate?

When you’re looking at the acceptance rate for Boston College, or any college acceptance rate for that matter, you may wonder what makes a college acceptance rate good or bad. At CollegeAdvisor, we don’t believe in categorizing college acceptance rates as bad or good. Instead, we consider whether acceptance rates are high or low. The higher the acceptance rate at a school, the easier it may be for you to gain acceptance. Likewise, the lower the acceptance rate, the more competitive your application needs to be, and the fewer students are admitted each year.

Because of this, we recommend varying the schools you apply to based on their acceptance rates. Consider schools with acceptance rates below 25%, like the BC acceptance rate, “reach” schools. These are schools that will be the most competitive. Schools with acceptance rates that fall between 25% and 60% will be mostly considered “target” schools. Target schools are schools where admission is very likely, but not completely guaranteed. Finally, schools with acceptance rates of over 60% fall into the category of “safety” schools. Safety schools are the schools most likely to admit you. However, keep in mind that one school may be a “reach” for one student and a “target” for another—it all depends on your grades, standardized test scores, and candidate profile. 

Want more details about college acceptance rates? Check out our resources on college acceptance rates and the admissions process

Boston College acceptance rate vs Harvard acceptance rate:

As you build your college list, it is helpful to consider acceptance rates in comparison to one another. So, let’s compare the Boston College acceptance rate with another acceptance rate. For example, take Harvard University. While they are only a ten-minute drive away from each other, their acceptance rates differ greatly. As we’ve already seen, the BC acceptance rate is 16.7%. In contrast, the Harvard acceptance rate for the class of 2027 was just 3.5%. That means fewer than 4 out of every 100 students who applied beat the Harvard acceptance rate. 

Many factors influence these different acceptance rates. For example, Boston College is a college, not a university. That means there is an emphasis primarily on undergraduate education on campus. Harvard, conversely, is a university, which means the institution focuses on both graduate students and undergrads. In addition, there is a big size difference between the two institutions. Harvard’s undergraduate enrollment is just over 5,000, while the BC enrollment is 14,890. Smaller colleges tend to have more competitive acceptance rates, as students must vie for fewer open slots.

These factors contribute to the different college acceptance rates, not just at Boston College and Harvard, but across all colleges. You can compare more of the lowest college acceptance rates here. Also, check out what to consider when researching college acceptance rates. 

Boston College Admissions

As we’ve mentioned above, there are several factors that dictate college acceptance rates. For Boston College admissions, these factors include the Boston College SAT requirements and the Boston College GPA requirements. Additionally, the supplemental essays and your personal essay will play a key role in your admissions odds. 

So, what are the Boston College SAT requirements and the Boston College GPA requirements? The middle 50% of SAT scores for those admitted to the Boston College class of 2025 was 1420-1530. The middle 50% of ACT scores was 33-34. If your scores fall within this range, you have a good chance of beating the Boston College acceptance rate. 

Boston College states that when making their admissions decisions, they consider “grades, standardized test scores, what you do outside of school, teachers’ and others’ appraisals, and how you express yourself through writing.” All of these factors contribute to the acceptance rate for Boston College and shape the Boston College admissions process.

You can view more details about the application process on the BC website

Boston College Tuition

Among the highest nationally ranked universities according to U.S. News, Boston College is a great addition to any college list. However, before sending in that application, it’s worth doing some research into what Boston College tuition will cost you. 

The Boston College cost of attendance is something important to consider as you decide whether to apply to BC. For some families, the BC tuition may seem a bit over budget. However, the Boston College costs and additional Boston College fees may be lower for an individual student than the listed sticker price.

Let’s explore the specifics of Boston College tuition and fees together. To get a more personalized estimate of the Boston College tuition, check out the Boston College net price calculator.  

What is Boston College cost of attendance?

According to their website, the total Boston College cost of attendance is $84,950. While this may seem like a big number, you can reduce your Boston College costs with need-based scholarships and grants offered by the school. 

For example, for the academic year of 2020-2021, the average aid given to help students cover their BC tuition was $46,777. So, Boston College tuition may be more affordable than it seems!

Although Boston College tuition and fees are more expensive than the national average, Boston College is committed to meeting the full demonstrated need of all undergraduate students.

For more information on financial aid from the experts at CollegeAdvisor, click here.  

What are Boston College fees?

BC is one of the many colleges to offer financial aid to applicants who show that they cannot afford that high Boston College tuition. However, in addition to the BC tuition, applicants also must consider Boston College fees as part of their total Boston College cost of attendance.

Mandatory Boston College fees for the 2023-2024 school year totaled at $1,270. These Boston College costs may not make or break your calculations when thinking about the full Boston College cost of attendance. But it’s still good to keep in mind. 

Boston College net price calculator

The Boston College net price calculator is a great way to determine what you may be asked to pay for your specific Boston College tuition. 

A net price calculator is a tool that gives students an idea of what they may pay for college tuition. So, the sticker price for the Boston College costs may not be your actual Boston College costs. 

If you want a better idea of what you may be expected to pay for Boston College tuition and fees, use the Boston College net price calculator.

Boston College tuition and fees: how much will attendance really cost?

The total Boston College cost of attendance is comprised of several different numbers: BC tuition, Boston College fees, and additional expenses. For example, the total cost of Boston College tuition alone is $66,410. However, there are additional Boston College fees which bring the total sticker price for the school much higher. 

Don’t be discouraged by the high Boston College tuition and fees. They seem high, but most families actually do not pay that number. Although Boston College tuition and Boston College fees have increased in recent years, BC has a commitment to affordability for its students. 

So, the only way to really know how much the Boston College cost of attendance will be for your family is to use the Boston College net price calculator. 

BC Tuition: Final Thoughts

We’ve broken down the Boston College cost of attendance, including Boston College tuition, Boston College fees, and other Boston College costs. Although BC tuition seems high, remember that Boston College is a highly-ranked university. Also, keep in mind that most applicants can apply for the $160 million in need-based scholarships and grants that BC offers. 

In conclusion, if BC is your dream school, don’t be discouraged by the high sticker price of Boston College tuition. With need-based aid, BC tuition can become an affordable reality for many applicants. 

Check out our webinar to learn more about applying to Boston College.

Average Cost* $36,599
Average Total Aid Awarded $51,046
Students Receiving Financial Aid 39.48%
*Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.

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Boston College Academics

Student Faculty Ratio 10:1

Boston College Majors

As you create your college list, you’ll likely look at the college majors that each school offers. It is critical that the college majors that interest you are available at your target schools. This is why researching college majors at every school is essential. 

So, if you plan to apply to Boston College, make sure you know the list of college majors that interest you. Look at the BC undergraduate majors and think about how your choice of Boston College majors could affect admissions. 

When you apply to Boston College, you apply to one of four undergraduate divisions: 

  1. Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
  2. Carroll School of Management
  3. Lynch School of Education and Human Development
  4. Connell School of Nursing 

Each division offers a different list of college majors. So, make sure you know which college majors interest you, and the Boston College majors each division offers, before you apply to BC.

What is a college major and minor?

As you start to think about Boston College majors, you may wonder, “what is a college major?”

A college major is a structured program of study built around a particular discipline. By contrast, a college minor is additional training in a discipline different from your college major. 

If you’re applying to a top school like Boston College, all of the BC undergraduate majors will teach you valuable skills. When it comes to Boston College majors, try to keep an open mind!

Curious about what college majors other students are interested in? Find a list of college majors that are popular with Gen Z here

What are the best college majors at Boston College?

Now that you have the answer to “what is a college major,” you can look at the majors at Boston College in more depth. 

According to Forbes and U.S. News, the most popular majors at Boston College are:

  1. Finance
  2. Economics
  3. Biology
  4. Speech Communication and Rhetoric
  5. Political Science and Government

These college majors are some of the best college majors at Boston College. In addition, BC comes in at #39 in the U.S. News ranking of Best National Universities, so they are likely to have some of the best college majors nationally. 

What other majors is Boston College known for?

Along with the most popular majors at Boston College, there are other BC undergraduate majors for you to consider as you make your list of college majors. Plus, there are plenty of Boston College minors to choose from!

In addition to the Boston College majors above, these are some of the best college majors at BC:

  1. Developmental and Child Psychology
  2. Nursing
  3. English Language and Literature
  4. Marketing/Marketing Management
  5. Psychology

There’s also a full list of Boston College minors here. Remember that the Boston College minors only complement the main program of study provided by the Boston College majors. 

Boston College list of majors

Your choice of BC undergraduate majors and Boston College minors might fall outside of the top majors at Boston College listed above. If so, you can find the full list of Boston College majors and Boston College minors here

This list includes majors like African and African Diaspora Studies, Neuroscience, Linguistics, Human-Centered Engineering, Theology, Slavic Studies, Applied Psychology and Human Development, Accounting and Information Systems, Communication, Criminal and Social Justice, and so many more!

Choosing a college major at Boston College

The long list of Boston College majors can feel overwhelming. If you are struggling to put together a final list of college majors, don’t sweat it! This webinar will help you decide the best college majors for you. 

While Boston College won’t let you change divisions after you submit, they may let you change once you’ve been at the school for a certain period of time. So, don’t worry about the long list of BC undergraduate majors. Simply pick the division that offers BC undergraduate majors that match your interests most closely.

Most Popular Majors
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Psychology
  • Communications
  • Biology
  • Political Science and Government
  • Marketing
  • English
  • Accounting
  • Nursing

Boston College Online

Offers Online Courses Yes

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Boston College Students

Full-Time Undergrad Enrollment 9,532
Part-Time Undergraduates 231

Boston College Advisors

Meaghan Gee
Cornell University
Hi, nice to meet you! I'm a 2019 graduate from Cornell University where I studied Industrial and Labor Relations and minored in Business and Inequality Studies. As a student, I worked at my school's Office of Career Services where I reviewed resumes and cover letters, and conducted mock interviews. I thoroughly enjoyed helping my peers obtain their dream internships and full time jobs, and am looking forward to helping you in your college search!

Also Accepted to

Mariko Rooks
Yale University
Hello! My name is Mariko and I graduated from Yale University in 2021 with a double major in the History of Public Health and Ethnicity, Race, and Migration. I'm also enrolled in the dual BA/MPH program at Yale's School of Public Health, where I'm getting my Master's in Public Health through the Social and Behavioral Science department with a concentration in U.S. Racial Health Justice. Originally from Los Angeles, California, and I play water polo for Yale's women's team and conduct historical research on medicine and the slave trade. I also serve on the USA Water Polo Racial Equity Task Force and have been involved with Yale's Afro-American and Asian American Cultural Centers throughout my time in college. I was accepted regular decision with a "likely" letter to Yale, and was also a recruited two-sport athlete in high school.

Also Accepted to

College Testimonials from Clients Who Were Accepted to Boston College

Maria Vaquero
University of Notre Dame

My experience with CollegeAdvisor was fantastic! I had an amazing counselor (shoutout to Clay!) who really helped me focus on the areas of my writing that could be improved. I felt very supported and the feedback I received made a huge difference. The system of weekly meetings we had in place helped me succeed during the college process. Thank you Clay and CollegeAdvisor!

Nico Gentile
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Throughout my time applying to colleges my advisor was always there to look over and essay and provide me with amazing feedback! I am so grateful for all the work and advice that my advisors gave me when applying to college!

Layal Kazerooni

Matthew Yekell was extremely helpful throughout the entire process of applying to college. He went out of his way to be extremely accommodating to time differences and his help was fundamental to my admission into my top choice universities. He supported me through every step of the application process and made applying to college an enjoyable experience – couldn’t have done it without him!

Hiya Shah
Stanford University

Great!

Avery Medina

My experience with CollegeAdvisor was excellent. My advisor, Carolyn, was always available for help and kept me on track with a well planned out timeline. She helped me refine my essay ideas and was fantastic when it came to editing and clarifying ideas in my writing. My college application experience would have been much tougher had it not been for CollegeAdvisor. I definitely recommend!

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